William A. Saganich

1924 - 2023

TROY - William Anthony Saganich passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the age of 98, while residing at the Eddy Heritage House in Troy.
Born in Arlington, Mass. on July 2, 1924, to parents, Anthony and Frances (Krivicich) Saganich, Bill spent his formative years in Arlington where he was a graduate of Arlington High School. Bill was an Army veteran of World War II and was drafted into service on April 9, 1943. He was assigned to Northern France with the 266th Engineer Combat Battalion, and for his service, he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged on April 1, 1946, and returned home to Arlington. Bill furthered his education at the Bryant & Stratton Business School in Boston and earned a degree in business administration. He later obtained a degree in finance and accounting by taking night courses at Bentley College. In October of 1948, Bill was married to the former Irene Richards and together they enjoyed more than 73 years of marriage before Irene's passing on May 31, 2022.
Bill took employment with the Springmeier Shipping Company in Boston in 1948. In 1963, he accepted a transfer to manage Springmeier's new Albany terminal and relocated his family to East Schodack, where they resided for 44 years. Bill retired in 1985 as vice president of Springmeier's Eastern Region. He enjoyed memberships in the East Schodack Volunteer Fire Department, Garden Club, Esquatok, and the Knights of Columbus. He was interested in local politics and served on several committees to improve town services. Bill was also a religious education teacher and eucharistic minister at St. Mary's Church in Nassau. Bill even got adventurous and enjoyed riding his Triumph motorcycle! In his retirement he was content gardening, puttering around in his old barn, feeding the birds, vacationing on Cape Cod, and traveling with Irene to visit their children and grandchildren.
Bill was happiest when he was with his family and will be remembered for being a kind, gracious, generous, and thoughtful man. He was always the gentleman, the ultimate host and a great hugger!
He is survived by his children, William A. Saganich Jr. (Yvonne O'Brien) of Halifax, Pa., Richard P. Saganich (Eugenia) of Milton, Vt., Marian S. Coffey (Robert) of Mechanicville, Cynthia A. Kroposki (late husband Richard) of Hollis, N.H. and Jon D. Saganich (Christa) of McLeansville, N.C.; his grandchildren, William A. Saganich III, Erin Fitch (William), Daniel Coffey (Amy), Natasha Kroposki, Jonathan Kroposki, Shana Saganich (Aaron Piver) and Alexi Saganich; his great-grandchildren, Rachel Dirks (Christian), Liam Fitch, Eila Fitch, Emma Coffey, Ian Coffey, Maeva Coffey, Adalie Piver and Brady Piver; his great-great-grandson, Remington Dirks; his sister, Elizabeth Sloan (late Jack) of Andover, Mass. as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, Bill was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary (late Peter) Krivicich, Loretta (late Henry) Williams, John (late Betty) Saganich, Albert (late Carol) Saganich, and Joseph (late Barbara) Saganich.
The family wishes to thank all the dedicated staff at the Eddy Heritage House for their compassionate, devoted care of Bill.
Friends are invited to visit with the Saganich family on Monday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Road in Latham. A funeral Mass for Bill will be celebrated by the Reverend Geoffrey D. Burke on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham. In the spring, Bill will be interred with full military honors next to Irene in the Scottsville Cemetery in Danby, Vt.
Visit bowenandparkerbros.com to leave a fond remembrance of Bill and for driving directions.